CDC Reveals Best Time to Get Flu Vaccine

October 13, 2017

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals are strongly advised to get a flu vaccine before the end of October. Since the vaccination takes two weeks after administration to begin providing protection, it is recommended that people get the vaccination sooner rather than later, as the flu season usually begins to pick up by the end of October.

While any of the approved flu vaccinations offer protection against the virus, there are some formulations that offer protection against more strains. Trivalent vaccines protect against three strains of the virus, while quadrivalent vaccines protect against a fourth additional strain. A table of recommended flu vaccines can be found here.

Last year, vaccination rates improved, and close to 47 percent of the population in the United States received a flu vaccination. However, that still meant that more than half of the population went unvaccinated. So far, many of the cases in the United States are from the H3N2 strain of the influenza virus. That particular strain usually results in more severe effects-especially in older adults. The 2017-2018 vaccine does include strains of the H3N2 virus, and early indications are showing that this season's vaccine is a good match for the strains that are in circulation. While adults 65 years and older, children under the age of 5, and those with chronic medical conditions are most vulnerable, it is imperative that healthy adults also get vaccinated to help prevent spreading the virus.

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